replacing front urethane bumper
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Joined: Jan 2012
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replacing front urethane bumper
I own a 1973 and was wondering a couple of things, rather unrelated. Has anyone ever replaced the front urethane bumper with the Truflex bumper? I love my 73, but the waviness in the front bumper drives me insane. Mine isn't really very bad, but I do notice it. Next, does anyone know a good source for rechroming? I have a sideview mirror that I want to have redone. I have ordered new mirrors, from Corvette Central, but you get the foreign jobs that never seem to go on right. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 803
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From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Yep!
Did the front and rear on my 74 convertible with the Trueflex bumpers. Get the mounting kit (nuts and bolts) and be prepared to spend a bit of time fitting things up. It was easier for me because I was painting the whole car, so I could mess with the body as well as the cover. Not too much though. I had to build up the drivers side bumper top corner and edge nearly half an inch to get the gaps nice and even. I used 3M fibreglass reinforced filler on the covers. You have to use a polyester based one on the bumper. Epoxy resin on the body (I think that's correct for 73's?). Fitting it all up is fun too. Small hands and an extra elbow would be handy!Essentially, the job will turn out as good as the time you took to get it right!
Did the front and rear on my 74 convertible with the Trueflex bumpers. Get the mounting kit (nuts and bolts) and be prepared to spend a bit of time fitting things up. It was easier for me because I was painting the whole car, so I could mess with the body as well as the cover. Not too much though. I had to build up the drivers side bumper top corner and edge nearly half an inch to get the gaps nice and even. I used 3M fibreglass reinforced filler on the covers. You have to use a polyester based one on the bumper. Epoxy resin on the body (I think that's correct for 73's?). Fitting it all up is fun too. Small hands and an extra elbow would be handy!Essentially, the job will turn out as good as the time you took to get it right!
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Thanks for the advice. My bumper has just a little dip on one side but there is some fine cracking of the paint. I have a good body man who would either install a new one or paint the old one as I have a few small nicks around the car I want him to touch up for me. I had an orange 73 back in the mid 80's, preceded by a 68, but when we started having children, mine got sold, but hubby kept his 65. Funny how that works, but he still has it, so it was my turn to replace mine now that the kids are grown and married! I am loving it too, nothing like a 73. Thanks again.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Waterford Mi
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
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From: Surrey British Columbia
Yes, if you're not going for NCRS points go with Tru-Flex bumper covers. My '80 came with them. It's the one modification that the previous Bubba owner did to my car that I agreed with. They'll last forvever.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
You learn quick how far that sticks out after the embarassment subsides.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Canboro Ontario
Mike, that is a pic as I was finishing the restoration. No bumps or scratches yet.
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I have come perilously close in my garage to bumping baby's nose, but not yet. I also have to park in no man's land if I take it somewhere because I had someone back over the front of my old 73 years ago...very traumatic!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
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Personally I'd go with the urethane on a 73. You only have to deal with the front on a 73. I did my 74 a few years ago and I went with the truflex on both ends because there was no way I could get a urethane for the rear, unless I went with another year bumper, so if I'm going with a truflex on the rear I might as well do the front as well. That way I can use regular paint for both ends. Also on a 74 you can only get a true split truflex bumper is from Ecklers.
Also it was suggested elswhere on this forum that to get a true color match for the bumper was to take off the gas cap cover and have your paint provider do a color match. In my case I did that and I found that the rear of the car was painted at sometime along with gas cap cover which I couldn't tell till the bumpers were painted, so the bumpers were a shade darker red then the rest of the car. Anyway there were other issues with the body that I finally had the whole car re-painted, now the whole car looks great.
Also it was suggested elswhere on this forum that to get a true color match for the bumper was to take off the gas cap cover and have your paint provider do a color match. In my case I did that and I found that the rear of the car was painted at sometime along with gas cap cover which I couldn't tell till the bumpers were painted, so the bumpers were a shade darker red then the rest of the car. Anyway there were other issues with the body that I finally had the whole car re-painted, now the whole car looks great.
